The Banner Saga

[IA]

While I was in Aus a friend showed me game in development called "The Banner Saga" Here's there Studio page Stoic Studio ...As well as the announcement trailer.->Trailer

It is going to be a turn based strategy game based on Norse culture. They say the are aiming for a mature story line. They also set up a kickstarter that is well funded. Here is a rundown of  the features listed on there.

DRM-Free, and available on PC and Mac

Not another generic fantasy: Drawing heavily from Norse culture while creating its own identity and mythology, The Banner Saga takes a low-fantasy approach to viking themes. Giants: yes. Horned helmets: no.

Strategic combat: Recruit a large roster of unique characters throughout the story, each with different abilities that interact in combat in a deeply tactical way and personalities of their own. The Banner Saga harkens back to classic turn-based gameplay with a strong emphasis on tactics over brute force and endless grinding.

Travel across gorgeous landscapes: The choices you make as events arise have a huge affect on how the story plays out- who survives, who dies, and what's worth saving. Add people to your caravan as you travel, or lose them when tough decisions arise. You're not just fighting to save nameless strangers, you're fighting for your neighbors, your family and your way of life. We want you to care what happens to them.

An emphasis on story: Your choices in dialogue and throughout the game truly affect the story and the people around you. A mature story for adults means forming relationships and making tough decisions; not sex, violence and swearing.

Play online: Though the single-player campaign is our focus, The Banner Saga provides a deep multiplayer game; build a unique party of characters and battle friends and enemies in multiplayer combat. Upgrade your party over time and devise new strategies.

Risk in gameplay: A lot of modern games play it safe- you know you'll defeat the evil and save the day. In The Banner Saga you can't take anything for granted. We want it to feel like a good tv mini-series; the world doesn't revolve around you, it's about how you deal with change.

http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoic/the-banner-saga

 

[RalliX]

I'm not much into turn-based games.
Everything else intrigues me somewhat.

 

[Jhessail]

This does look pretty good and the developers are saying many good things in their interviews. Definitely worth keeping an eye on or even pledging for their Kickstarter. Combination seems excellent: King of the Dragon Pass style general game combined with X-Com'esque TB combat.

 

[Suspicous Pilgrim]

Seems pretty nice, definitely worth 10-20 dollars by the sound of it.

 

[Reapy]

Anybody been following this or trying it?  Basically they are still working on a single player story but in the mean time they are also creating a free to play tactics game to essentially balance out / create the tactics system.

There was a deal to get in early for 5 bucks a week or so ago (not sure if its still up) which I almost jumped on, but honestly would probably prefer the SP. Either way I read up a touch on the systems in the game and it seems like a nice game, though I worry about how much fun I'd actually have playing a tactics game against other people rather than an AI.

Essentially when you balance the game you end up not being able to use overpowered abilities, which is sort of what half the fun of those games are to me, over leveling your guys and trampling everything.

Anybody been in on the beta and trying it out?

 

[PoisonCourtesan]

Looks cool artwise but unless it offers dialog options and decisions I ain't gonna touch it.

 

[Merlkir]

I don't care for the f2p tactics game at all. I will probably buy the singleplayer campaign though.

 

[Suspicous Pilgrim]

How the **** did this get 700k?

 

[Merlkir]

How the **** did this get 700k?

Why not? It looks good.

 

[pentagathus]

Not another generic fantasy: Drawing heavily from Norse culture while creating its own identity and mythology, The Banner Saga takes a low-fantasy approach to viking themes. Giants: yes. Horned helmets: no.

An emphasis on story: Your choices in dialogue and throughout the game truly affect the story and the people around you. A mature story for adults means forming relationships and making tough decisions; not sex, violence and swearing
http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/stoic/the-banner-saga

So giants are lower fantasy than horned helmets?  Still, sounds good.
As to the second paragraph, thank Thor's mighty left testicle for that. I find this to be a massive problem in many stories, particularly "dark" or "gritty" fantasy novels which are just generic fantasy with characters swearing, shagging and dancing around in gore and bashed out babies brains.
Not usually too fond of turn based games though.

 

[Jhessail]

The story is supposed to be non-epic and "mature", in the sense that you are guiding your wandering tribe to safety and/or new home while dodging enemy pursuit. Along the way, you apparently have to make tough decisions that will affect the safety of your tribe. Much depends on what these decisions are and how their consequences are implemented. The fact that they cite King of the Dragon Pass often is reassuring.

 

[Æthelwulf]

Factions just went live on Steam for free. Installing now and can't wait to get have a dabble.

Ok, I'm now officially in love with this game. The style, the tactics, everything. I can see it a couple of years from now still retaining my time if it adds regular updates such as new unit types and much more customisation. Bah, go play it you swines.

 

[Harkon Haakonson]

I liked it, played a battle against a nice Romanian guy who was first timer same as me, it was terribly close and he won with 1 raider standing with 3 HP, was fun. ****ed myself at least 2 times during the match for failing to know how much willpower I needed for the special attacks, getting me in suicide situations that would have been perfect hit and runs. >.>

But I really only want this either to play against you guys or for the singleplayer. I thought it was already in, was a big disappointment that it wasn't.

 

[Leifr Eiríksson]

Played a few games last night against Aethelwulf and Sir Start, Harkon.
It's great fun. Feel free to harass me for a game also... 

 

[Harkon Haakonson]

Yeah I noticed you had it yesterday, I sure will mate.

Damn I miss Sir Start! Last game we played together was EUIII with the clan.

 

[Leifr Eiríksson]

Actually, you played with him in the last Vikingr event. 

 

[Harkon Haakonson]

D'oww. Illusive event names!

For what it's worth, I'm still using "Har**** d'Erlun".

 

[pentagathus]

Earl Skankwagon the Mangefaced here.

 

[Marko͘]

Necro lads, the Banner Saga: Chapter I is out and it's beast! 
83 metascore
Good RPG experience...fun to run about with a caravan?

Looks cool artwise but unless it offers dialog options and decisions I ain't gonna touch it.

隐藏

For the rest

隐藏

隐藏

 

[Kevlar]

Chapter 1?

So, this is another episodic game I take it? Going to suck if this is the cost for only episode one then. Judging by the steam forums it seems there is around 15+ hours to the game so I am not quite sure I want to spend $25 on it, guess I will have to wait for a sale.